RHINOPLASTY

More than any other area of the face, the nose has the ability to define much of our expression and the way we look.

When Dr. Perez was pursuing his specialization in plastic surgery, he felt a special attraction and passion for nose surgery. This led him to train in the United States with two of the world’s most renowned surgeons in this field, Dr. Eugene Tardy and Dr. Dean Toriumi of the University of Illinois. With over 25 years of experience and over 2000 nose surgeries under his belt, Dr. Perez has designed a rhinoplasty surgical technique with well-defined goals and objectives.

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT

In order to attain a face with a more balanced and smooth appearance, Dr. Perez performs an assessment which goes beyond the nose and takes into account certain areas of the face that are closely related to the nose, such as the chin and lips.

FUNCTIONALITY

Please keep in mind that the main function of the nose is to allow the proper air flow into the lungs during each breath. A significant percentage of patients who come to Dr. Perez’s office, report having nasal obstruction problems due to various causes, such as septal deviations, enlarged turbinates, among others. For these very reasons, this comprehensive technique of nose surgery allows maintaining an adequate function of the nose and correcting the alterations that cause respiratory problems.

NATURAL LOOK

Dr. Perez believes that an excellent nose surgery is not one that results in a dramatic change in appearance and strays from keeping an aesthetic balance with the rest of the face, much less one that creates aesthetic or other functional consequences. His technique focuses on obtaining natural results that generate harmony, smoother and well-defined features.

DETAILS OF DR. PEREZ'S TECHNIQUE

In most of his patients, Dr. Perez performs the technique of open rhinoplasty, which has several advantages over other techniques, such as:

The technique performed by Dr. Perez is consistent with the most modern and advanced techniques available in nose surgery, which seeks to preserve most of the internal nasal tissues, and thus remove aesthetic and functional complications. Such complications occur when traditional techniques remove tissues that are important for the structure and function of the nose.

OUR EXCELLENT RESULTS

ANESTHESIA

In most cases, rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. The duration of the procedure ranges from 1 to 2 hours.

RHINOPLASTY CANDIDATES

Patients who wish to improve the appearance of their nose, in order to achieve greater harmony and balance with the rest of their facial appearance.
Patients with nasal obstruction problems caused by structural alterations of the septum or turbinates.
Patients with functional or aesthetic after-effects, due to trauma or previous nose surgeries.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER SURGERY?

There is usually mild swelling of the lower eyelids and cheeks.

Dr. Perez usually uses micropore tapes that cover the nose and a very light aluminum splint, which provides protection and eases the inflammation process. It is usually removed 7 days after surgery.

During the first postoperative days, most patients experience nasal obstruction, due to the inflammatory process that occurs within the nose. This situation improves with the use of an anti-inflammatory spray that Dr. Perez prescribes to his patients.

AT WHAT AGE CAN ONE UNDERGO RHINOPLASTY?

In order to perform this procedure, the patient must have completed facial bone development, which in females is usually reached by the age of 16 and in males by the age of 17 or 18.

HOW LONG DOES THE INFLAMMATION LAST?

Actually, there are 2 inflammatory stages that follow nose surgery:

Acute Stage: This stage is evident in a mild to moderate form, and lasts up to 10 to 15 days.

Late Stage: This process is practically unnoticeable, since it is confined to the inner tissues of the nose, as it disappears, the nose looks more distinct. This stage can last up to 8-10 months after surgery.

IS NOSE SURGERY PAINFUL?

Nose surgery is not painful in the postoperative period, in fact if any increasing pain is experienced, it may be a sign of an ongoing complication.

ARE ALL NOSE SURGERIES DIFFERENT?

One of the reasons for which nose surgery is considered one of the most complex procedures in plastic surgery, is because every nose is very different, and there are important anatomical variations between a Mestizo nose, an Afro-American nose or a European nose.

Aware of this, Dr. Perez treats each case individually, performing a thorough pre-operative assessment and implementing a surgical technique that is designed for each patient.

IS NASAL PACKING NECESSARY?

In most of his patients, Dr. Perez does not use postoperative nasal packing, as he uses a surgical technique of absorbable stitches placed at the nasal septum. The great advantage of this is that it allows patients to breathe through their nose right after surgery, thus avoiding the inconvenience and discomfort of nasal packing.

Patients who have suffered traumatic nasal fractures or after difficult-to-manage functional surgeries are an exception to this approach.

POST-SURGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

In order to help drainage of the inflammation, we recommend maintaining a semi-sitting position of 30 degrees.
Refrain from physical or athletic activities during the first week.
Use saline solution to clean the inside of each nostril, in order to help remove scabs and secretions that may occur during the post-surgical period.

AT WHAT AGE CAN ONE UNDERGO RHINOPLASTY?

There is a certain consensus of opinion as to the age at which this procedure can be performed. This procedure should ideally be performed once body development has been reached, around 16 to 17 years of age, and once the patient is fully aware and mature enough to face a change in their facial appearance.